Visit to Canberra and Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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I will be in Canberra next week to meet with key Ministers and senior Departmental officials with responsibility for the Indian Ocean Territories (IOTs) including:

The Hon Susan Ley MP, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories

The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Home Affairs

The Hon Melissa Price MP, Minister for the Environment

Dr. Steven Kennedy, PSM, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities.

As indicated in my community bulletin of yesterday, I will be discussing the implications of re‑opening the immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island.

I will also be briefing Ministers and Departmental officials on the development of the Strategic Plan for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and reporting on progress with the implementation of the recently approved Strategic Plan for Christmas Island. I intend to report back to the IOT communities on these meetings when I return to the IOTs.

After Canberra, I will be on Cocos from Friday, 22 February for a week. I'm very pleased to be invited by the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands to participate in the community workshop being held to contribute to the development of the Shire's master plans for both Home and West Islands. The workshop will take place from 10.15 a.m. to 2.15 p.m. on Saturday, 23 February at the Home Island Community Centre. I strongly encourage community members to attend.

If any local resident would like to meet with me while I'm on Cocos, please contact my office to schedule an appointment. While I'm away, my office on Christmas Island will remain open.